Sign-letter



(No Model.)

BLGREGORY. SIGNA LETTER.

No. 498,430. Patented May ao', 1819s..V

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NrrR STATES L ATRNT FRICE.

FRED L. GREGORY, 0F NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.

SIGN-LETTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 498,430, dated May 30, 1893.

Application filed March 26, 1891. Serial No. 386.457. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRED L. GREGORY, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sign-Letters, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to that class of sign letters which are applied with their front side to the inner or rear side of a transparent plate or Window pane.

The object of my invention is to produce a letter Which is attached with its entire front ,face tothe transparent plate, whereby a large contact surface and a secure fastening are obtained, alsoto produce a letter which is affected by changes in the temperature alike with the glass plate to which it is secured, so that the letter is not liable to become detached by unequal contraction and expansion; also to produce a sectional letter which is readily put together of different sections, and to render the letter visible by light transmitted through the letter from the rear side.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a simple form of my improved sign letter. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line -m, Fig. l on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of my improved letter made transparent in part. Fig. 4c is a transverse cross section in line yy, Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the letter shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a letter made in sections. Figs. 7 and 8 are cross sections showing letters of slightly modified form.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several iigures.

A represent a transparent plate or Window pane and B represents a letter secured to the rear side of the plate.

The letter B is constructed of glass or other transparent material and has aflat front face which is firmly secured against the iiat rear face of the glass plate bya transparent cement or other suitable material which permits the light to pass to the letter from the front side of the plate.

The rear side of the letter is made angular or composed of beveled sides as shown in Figs. l and 2, or it is composed of a flat back and beveled sides as shown in Figs. 3, 4. and 5; or

it is made convex as shown in Fig. 7, or it is composed of a grooved back and beveled sides, as represented in Fig. 8.

The rear side of the letter is gilded, lacquered or coated with any suitable material which forms a bright reflecting surface and reiiects the light forwardly,whereby a brilliant effect is produced and the sign is rendered very attractive. The gilding on the backs of the letters is protected by a coating of paint, varnish or other suitable material.

The iat front face forms a large bearing surface Which 'permits the letter to be iirmly secured to the glass plate.

By constructing the letters of glass, the letters contract and expand evenly with the glass plate to which they are attached, whereby the letters are prevented from becoming detached by unequal expansion and contraction.

Letters of moderate size are preferably formed in molds having the shape of the complete letter. When very large letters are required, the letters may be composed of sections or bars c of different lengths, which are assembled to form the desired letter. The ends of the bars are properly shaped or beveled so th at when the separate bars are united to form the letter a close joint is formed between the meeting ends of the bars.

To make the letters more prominent and attractive the transparent plate is frequently painted or otherwise made opaque around the letter as indicated in Fig. 5, the painted portion forming a dark background for the letters when viewed from the front side of the plate. When the letters are arranged in this manner upon a window pane, the letters are obscured at night, when the Window is lighted from the inside. In order that the letters may be distinctly visible under these circumstances the ridge or central portion of the back of each letter is not coated or gilded but is left transparent so that the light can pass through this transparent portion d of the letter, which forms an illuminated line having the same outline as the letter itself, as represented in Figs. 3 and 5.

My improved letter is constructed at comparatively small expense and is very brilliant and attractive in appearance.

I claim as my invention- 1. A sign letter or symbol comprising the IOO reflecting backing in prismatic or convex form and the carrier or connecting support for said backing consisting of the transparent body portion of the letter having a iiat front face, adapted to bear against the glass pane or other support from edge to edge of said letter and a prismatic or convex rear side to which the backing is attached to conform thereto, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the glass plate, the refiectin g backing arranged in prismatic or convex form and the carrier or connecting support for said backing intermediate thereof and the glass plate consisting of the transparent body portion of the letter having a iiat front face bearing against the glass from edge to edge of thel letter and a prismatic rear side, substantially as described.

3. A sign letter consisting of a series of independently formed sections each section being a solid prismatic or convex bar of transparent material having a front flat face extending from edge to edge of the section, the ends of said solid bars being beveled to provide angular meeting faces, substantially a described.

4. A sign letter or symbol comprising the reiiectin g backing and the carrier or connecting support for said backing consisting of the transparent body portion of the letter having a fiat front face, adapted to bear against the glass or other support from edge to edge of said lettervand a prisrnatie or convex rear side to which the backing is attached, said reflecting backing extending only partly over the rear side of the transparent body to leave exposed portions thereof for the passage ot' light, substantially as described.

Witness my hand this 24th day of March, 1891.

FRED L. GREGORY. Witnesses:

J No. J. BONNER, FRED. C. GEYER. 

